The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Trump Gets Caught by his Own Party for Impeachable Offense

Date: November 23, 2025

Overview

In this explosive episode, the Meiselas brothers—Ben, Brett, and Jordy—delve into a major scandal involving Donald Trump, members of his own party, and a so-called "peace plan" for Ukraine that turns out to be a verbatim Russian document. The hosts break down the bipartisan effort to expose the Trump regime's laundering of a Russian surrender proposal as an American initiative, dissecting the timeline, political fallout, and what it reveals about ongoing foreign influence and the Republican party's divisions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Discovery of the "Peace Plan"

• Brett kicks off describing how Republican Senator Mike Rounds (SD) and other bipartisan figures attended the Halifax International Security Forum and learned about a suspicious “28-point peace plan” for Ukraine.
  • “It literally looked like it was written in Russian... Trump took a Russian plan, ran it through Google Translate and then said, ‘Zelensky, you have until Thanksgiving to accept this or else’.” — Brett (03:04)
• The plan demanded Ukrainian surrender, loss of eastern territories, demilitarization, and a NATO ban—essentially aligning with Moscow’s objectives.

The Bipartisan Blowback & Smokescreen

• Republican Senator Mike Rounds and others confront Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who originally tries to distance the administration from the plan.

  • "Rubio, what the hell is going on here? This looks like the Russian demand...” — Brett (04:33)

• Senator Rounds publicly clarifies at Halifax (06:00):

  • "It is not our recommendation. It is not our peace plan. It is a proposal that was received.” — Sen. Mike Rounds [06:00]

• The State Department, pressured by lawmaker outrage, then claims, without evidence, that the plan had American, Russian, and Ukrainian input.

Exposing the Russian Origins

• Ben details new reporting tying the plan’s authorship to Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, meeting with Republican lawmakers, Kushner, and Trump associates at Miami’s Fina Hotel.
  • “Dimitriev met also with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff...there seemed to have been no coordination with the State Department.” — Ben (10:36)
• Trump and surrogates, including J.D. Vance and Caroline Leavitt, echo Kremlin talking points, defending the proposal as necessary for “peace.”

Trump’s Response and Public Meltdowns

• Trump, when confronted, fully admits Ukraine may dislike the plan but doubles down:
  • “You mean he [Zelensky] doesn’t like it? He’ll have to like it…if he doesn’t like it, then, you know, they should just keep fighting, I guess.” — Donald Trump [13:36]
  • “He can continue to fight his little heart out.” — Donald Trump, pressed on whether it was a final offer [14:43]
• Caroline Leavitt’s defensive press conference (15:43):
  • “You haven’t read the full plan...the administration has talked equally with both sides.”
• International pushback from US allies is swift and sharp, with European nations calling the plan a non-starter and warning it would leave Ukraine vulnerable.

International and Press Reactions

• Allies including the UK, Germany, France, and Japan formally reject the so-called peace plan as Russian-written and dangerous.

• Experts and journalists widely mock the awkward, machine-translated English (“Russia is expected not to invade neighboring countries”) as evidence of its Kremlin origins.

• Even right-wing UK politician Nigel Farage calls the plan unacceptable.

• Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen at Halifax (19:40):

  • "I believe this is a Russian proposal. I hope that tomorrow’s negotiations focus on a real framework…that benefits Ukraine rather than Russia.”

• Russian oligarch Kirill Dmitriev brazenly endorses JD Vance’s support for the plan online, confirming its Moscow roots.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Brett summarizes the core scandal (12:20):
  • “The duplicity, the incompetence, and the yes, Russia, Russia, Russia, collusion before our eyes.”
• Angus King at Halifax Conference (08:24):

  • “It is essentially the wish list of the Russians that is now being presented to the Europeans and to the Ukrainians...All of us read that statement yesterday, were alarmed by it.”

• International joint statement (16:54):
  • "We are clear...the borders must not be changed by force...concerned by the proposed limitation on Ukraine's armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable."

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:04 | Discovery and exposure of the "28-point" Russian peace (surrender) plan | | 06:00 | Sen. Mike Rounds explains the document’s origins and tries to clarify US position | | 08:24 | Angus King states alarm at Russian-authored proposal being laundered as US policy | | 10:36 | Reporting on Kirill Dmitriev, Kushner, and the Miami connection to the plan’s authorship | | 13:36 | Donald Trump’s reaction to Zelensky and the US potentially pulling support | | 14:43 | Trump: “He can continue to fight his little heart out.” | | 15:43 | Caroline Leavitt’s denial and defense of the plan | | 16:54 | Joint statement from international allies rejecting the plan | | 19:40 | Sen. Jeanne Shaheen rebuffs the proposal, urging true negotiation for Ukraine’s benefit | | 20:52 | Dmitriev affirms Moscow's endorsement and the laundering of the plan through Team Trump |

Analysis and Takeaways

• The episode illustrates blatant foreign interference and the laundering of Putin’s agenda through American political machinery. The Meiselas brothers highlight both the danger and absurdity of the episode, with their signature sarcastic, incredulous tone.
• Bipartisan outrage signals a rare moment of institutional self-preservation even among usually pro-Trump Republicans.
• Trump’s open acceptance and defense of the proposal—despite it being obviously Russian-authored—spotlights both the former president’s recklessness and the ongoing challenge of Kremlin influence in American politics.
• The incident triggers severe backlash at home and abroad, embarrassing for the Trump campaign and undercutting defenses of the plan from his surrogates.

Notable Quotes

• “Rubio, what the hell is going on here? This looks like the Russian demand that Ukraine give up essentially all of its eastern territory and disarm.” — Brett (04:33)
• “It is not our recommendation. It is not our peace plan. It is a proposal that was received.” — Sen. Mike Rounds [06:00]
• “The duplicity, the incompetence, and the yes, Russia, Russia, Russia, collusion before our eyes.” — Brett (12:20)
• “You mean he doesn’t like it? He’ll have to like it.” — Donald Trump [13:36]
• “We are clear on the principles that the borders must not be changed by force...concerned by the proposed limitation on Ukraine's armed forces.” — Joint statement from NATO/EU allies (16:54)
• “This is a Russian proposal. I hope that tomorrow’s negotiations in Geneva focus on a real framework…that benefits Ukraine rather than Russia.” — Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (19:40)

Closing Thoughts

This episode delivers a scathing, detailed account of how a Russian surrender plan for Ukraine was adopted, defended, and nearly operationalized by Donald Trump and his circle—only for it to be publicly derailed through bipartisan congressional pushback. The MeidasTouch hosts combine their signature brotherly banter, legal and media insight, and a distinct pro-democracy skepticism to break down one of the most egregious recent examples of foreign policy malpractice and internal party revolt.